It's important to realize that many people are open to church attendance if they're asked. And that simple effort may help them make the initial step toward a decision for Christ. Certainly people come to faith in Christ without ever having stepped into a church. But it's much easier to plant, water, and cultivate in the context of community.

So, why don't many people come to our churches and consider the claims of Christ. The North American Mission Board's Center for Missional Research studied the attitudes and perceptions of the unchurched regarding Southern Baptists.

A recent survey conducted by the University of Minnesota shows that atheists are the least trusted group in today's society.

• The survey asked if a parent would disapprove of a child's wish to marry an atheist, 47.6 percent of those interviewed said yes.
  • Asked the same question about Muslims and African-Americans, the yes responses fell to 33.5 percent and 27.2 percent, respectively.
  • The yes responses for Asian-Americans, Hispanics, Jews and conservative Christians were 18.5 percent, 18.5 percent, 11.8 percent and 6.9 percent, respectively.

Eighty-seven percent of Americans are basic believers in the existence of God, saying either that they are convinced that God exists or that God probably exists and they have only a little doubt that this is the case.

• A slightly larger group of 92% of Americans can be classified in a group that tilts toward the existence of God, stating that at the least they think God probably exists, even though some have a lot of doubt about it.
• Only 3% of Americans can be considered to be hard-core atheists, convinced that God does not exist.
  Another 4% are agnostics of a sort, leaning toward a belief that God does not exist, but not sure that this is the case beyond a doubt. 
• Only about three-quarters of Americans with post-graduate educations or with incomes above $150,000 a year are certain that God exists or believe that God probably exists and have only a little doubt. 
   
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